The day after federal agents forced and handcuffed our Alex Padilla at a Los Angeles press conference, the leaders of the two political parties in the country responded in predictable ways with opposite take on the incident.
Padilla’s fellow Democrats called for an investigation into Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem, who is resigning from the Senate’s nemesis.
Noem and fellow Republicans continued to portray Padilla as their ancestors. To represent that threat, an unexpected appearance at Noem’s press conference appeared to represent details of her security.
Republicans tried to discipline Padilla on Friday, using words like “launch,” “runge,” and “bumrush,” to describe Padilla’s actions as she began to ask questions to Noem at Thursday’s press conference.
Trump administration officials overtook the Times photographers when Padilla moved assertively from the side of the room, minutes after a meeting with reporters, when he moved to a more direct NOEM. He didn’t charge at Noem and was still roaming from her when details of her security grabbed the Senator.
Padilla and his staff explained how the veteran lawmakers experienced security and said it was ridiculous to suggest that FBI employees would be escorted to the room where the press conference was held and present a threat.
Padilla said that her secretary had come to Los Angeles and claimed that she had come to LA to free the city from the socialists and burdensome leaders that the governor and mayor had placed in the country.
The former South Dakota governor questioned her during the Senate confirmation hearing, so there’s probably reason to admit Padilla. A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security did not answer the question of whether Norm recognized Padilla when he arrived at her press conference.
As it became the norm for the country’s political discourse, Republicans and Democrats spoke about the conflict on Friday as if they had observed two completely separate incidents.
Sen. Ben Ray Lejean (DN.M.) said Noem “should resign” and said, “This is ridiculous. And she continues to lie about the incident. This is wrong.”
Lujean urged his Republican colleagues to support Democrats in asking for a “full investigation.”
“This is bad. This is a precedent,” Lujean told MSNBC. “And I certainly hope that the Senate, my Republican leaders, my friends’ leaders, they just look.
Members of the Hispanic Caucus in Congress went to Mike Johnson’s office to protest Padilla’s treatment.
Senator Cory Booker (DN.J.) spoke about X and the Senate floor. He said the episode was “a pattern of actions made by the Trump administration. There is simply no justification for this authority’s abuse… There is no justification for seeing senators forced into their knees.”
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) continued his inquiry into X to reiterate his inquiry, saying “the Republican leadership is conspiring to enable the country’s strengthened authoritarianism.”
Only Republican lawmakers spoke publicly and heard a pain note about this episode.
“I’ve seen that clip before, and it’s scary,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Araska). “It’s shocking on every level. It’s not America I know.”
However, most Republicans were either silent or accused of Padilla of being a provocative.
“I think the Senator’s actions, my view, that was very inappropriate,” said House Speaker Johnson. “I won’t ask for a secretary for the cabinet I’m sitting on.”
Johnson added that it is Padilla who faces sanctions. “at least… [it] It rises to the level of criticism. …I think we need a message sent by our bodies as a whole, not what we are trying to do, but that’s not the way we act. ”
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) Zinged Padilla to X, with “helpful tips.” “1. Don’t confuse other people’s press conferences. Keep it yourself instead.
Rep. Jay Obernolt (R-Big Bear Lake) tried to reinforce the notion that agents protecting Noem feel a real threat.
The lawmaker said that Padilla “is getting the results they wanted. There’s a lot of talk now” about the Fox project.
None of the officials in the room knew Padilla, but before handcuffing him he intervened to prevent action by agents who ultimately pointed the senator to the ground and pushed him down.
Noem did not retreat from previous statements that Padilla had “rupted” into the room.
“Senator Padilla chose a disrespectful political theatre and suspended the live press conference without identifying himself or having a pin on Senate security.
McLaughlin also said that Padilla was “told repeatedly to step back and failed to comply with the officer’s repeated orders,” but the video released up to Friday showed no such warning prior to Padilla’s initial statement.
Senator staff said they personally received messages of concern from several colleagues from Republican colleagues, including Sen. Tim Sheehee (R-Mont.).
Padilla told Tommy Beiotter of the Pod Save America podcast, Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown was an attempt to distract him from many other mistakes.
“He always finds distractions,” Padilla said. “And when everything else fails, he demonizes the immigrants and returns to scapegoing.
Padilla has repeatedly said that if the military working for the Trump administration is allowed to “work” with US senators asking questions in public buildings, Americans should be worried about how everyday citizens will be treated.
On Friday afternoon, he sent a massive email urging his constituents to sign up for a planned protest on Saturday to counter the military parade Trump in Washington. “Show me what’s going on and say something,” Padilla wrote. “We cannot allow the Trump administration to threaten us with silence.”
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